BACKGROUNDER
Employment Assistance Programs

• Proven employment programs such as NewfoundJOBS, Linkages Youth Employment, Supported Employment, and the Single Parent Employment Support Program (SESP) offer opportunities for work experiences and a variety of supports to help people find and maintain employment. In total, the Department of Human Resources and Employment will spend over $14 million on its employment programs and services.
  
• NewfoundJOBS was introduced in 1999-2000 to help income support clients make the transition to employment. In 2002-2003 the department will spend $3 million on the program. Since its inception, 3,500 clients have benefited from NewfoundJOBS.
  
• In 2002-2003, the department will provide about $1.2 million for the successful Linkages Youth Employment Program. Linkages provides career-related employment, career planning workshops and a completion bonus towards the cost of post-secondary education.
  
• The Single Parent Employment Support Program (SESP) will provide $500,000 to help single parents find meaningful employment and become financially independent. Since its introduction in 1998, the program has assisted 332 single parents, over 100 of whom no longer receive any social assistance.
  
• The Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) Agreement helps people with a disability access the supports and services they need to enter the labour market. The agreement is valued at $6.6 million annually and is cost-shared with the Government of Canada.
  
• Human Resources and Employment works in partnership with a number of government departments and community agencies to ensure that clients can access a range of programs and services. In 2001-2002, through these arrangements, over 400 income support clients were enrolled in Adult Basic Education programs with the College of the North Atlantic, and over 2,500 income support clients with Employment Insurance eligibility were referred to Human Resources Development Canada to access their programs and services.
  
• The Department of Human Resources and Employment funds approximately 40 community-based organizations across the province to provide a range of employment related programs and services for clients of the department.
  
• The Department of Human Resources and Employment also provides training to all its frontline staff and managers to continue the enhancement of employment related programs and services.

Media contact: Paul Power, Communications, (709) 729-4062.

2002 03 21                            3:10 p.m.